Patriots’ Undrafted Defensive Tackles Can’t be Taken Lightly

The Patriots chose to add speed and athleticism during the draft. Afterwards, they ordered some beef.

NEPD Staff Writer: Oliver Thomas

The New England Patriots drafted seven players over the weekend. The list of Bill Belichick pick-ups included two wide receivers, two defensive backs, two edge-rushers and an inside linebacker. Each choice addressed a need, and it was a good haul by most standards.

But one position was notably missing from the draft pile: defensive tackle.

Even with USC and Canadian Football League standout Armond Armstead and ex-Oakland Raiders Pro Bowler Tommy Kelly in the fold, many still considered interior pass rush a top draft priority. Some were clamoring for a Kawann Short from Purdue, or a Jesse Williams from Alabama, or even a Bennie Logan from LSU.

The Patriots, obviously, weren’t listening.

Yet once pick 254 of Round 7 was announced, New England’s brass got the phones of countless undrafted free agents ringing. At least 18 of those prospects answered the call. And three of whom happened to be defensive tackles — the highest influx at one position.

Now 90-man training camp rosters are filled with many NFL hopefuls who will never play a down in the league. By most accounts, it’s trial by volume. Throw as many players up at the ceiling and see which ones “stick.” From that standpoint, it’s important to not get too excited about who the Patriots agree to terms with.

That said, there’s reason to believe that the team’s interest in the defensive tackle position goes deeper than the proverbial “numbers game.” There’s also reason to believe that at least one of these big D-linemen will, well, “stick.”

Here are the three unsung candidates who will be in camp battling for a roster spot.

Cory Grissom, South Florida — 6’2”, 306 pounds

Cory Grissom is a tough and determined run-stopper who never gives up on a play. Those traits can carry an undrafted free agent a long way in the NFL.

The fifth-year senior’s resume isn’t astounding, but it speaks for itself. Grissom started 40 games over his college career at South Florida. He was a second-team All-Big East selection in 2012. He totaled 105 career tackles, 16.5 stops for loss and five sacks. His play was enough to earn him a trip to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, where he was the only Bull in attendance.

Grissom is not your prototypical pass-rushing defensive tackle. He’s more of a disruptor who can get in the way of open lanes. He doesn’t have great upper-body strength, but he has strong legs and can keep his pad level low. Ultimately, Grissom plays hard and tackles hard. It’s kind of a surprise that No. 46 wasn’t drafted because he could certainly work his way into a defensive line rotation. If that doesn’t come to fruition in Foxboro, he should get a shot elsewhere.

Dewayne Cherrington, Mississippi State — 6’2”, 345 pounds

Dewayne Cherrington is a massive man who can consume space. He’s the epitome of a nose tackle. He’s also the least polished of the team’s undrafted D-tackles.

A Holmes Community College transfer, Cherrington joined the Bulldogs in 2011 and totaled 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles for negative yardage. As a senior in 2012, Cherrington made 24 tackles and for loss. These numbers don’t exactly impress, though his size is his potential. If he can find a way to carry it well, he could become a very imposing situational nose in the NFL.

While he’s very strong — he benched 36 reps of 225 pounds at his pro day — Cherrington has the quickness you’d expect from a man who’s pushing 350 pounds. He ran a 5.5 40-time at his workout, which would have been slower than Georgia’s Kwame Gathers at the NFL combine.

If he can prove to be a productive zero-tech in camp, Cherrington may be able to stick around. You can’t teach size and strength. He has both. Is Cherrington the next Ted Washington? Not likely. But there’s no harm in finding out who he could become.

Joe Vellano, Maryland — 6’2”, 306 pounds

It’s safe to say that the Vellano’s have left their mark on Maryland. Paul Vellano was an All-American defensive tackle for the Terrapins in the 1970s. And some 40 years later, his son Joe accomplished the same.

While the younger Vellano isn’t blessed with tremendous girth or the quickest feet, he’s the definition of a hard-working football player. A redshirt senior, Vellano has three years of starting experience under his belt.

In 2010, Vellano recorded 63 total stops and five sacks. A year later, he proceeded to amass an unbelievable 94 total tackles, as well as 2.5 sacks. And if you think those numbers are terrific, take a look at how well Vellano fared when the Terps switched to a 3-4 scheme in 2012: 61 tackles and six sacks. Not only is Vellano a strong, versatile lineman but he’s also a blue-collar worker and a team captain — all of which are boxes on Belichick’s checklist.

Outlook

The Patriots carried five defensive tackles on the 53-man roster at the start of the 2012 season. With that kind of track record, it’s clear that Grissom, Cherrington and Vellano will not all make the cut in 2013. Since Vince Wilfork, Armstead and Kelly are essentially locks, an undrafted rookie roster spot would likely come at the expense of either Kyle Love, Brandon Deaderick or Marcus Forston. If that doesn’t transpire, then the practice squad would be the next step in the process.

For now, we can just worry about mini camps. We do have months to debate how the roster will pan out. Nevertheless, you can’t count these three young linemen out. Each brings a different skill set to the table.

Nobody gives Marcus Fortson any chance. I wonder if a year on practice squad has done anything for him, and if he has a chance to be in the mix with Dederick, Love, and the UDFA’s for the last couple spots.

Geathers may have beaten Cherrington at 40 yards out, but at 10 yards (where it probably counts a lot more for an NT, they would’ve been in a virtual dead heat. Cherrinton’s vertical wasn’t as good as Geathers’ and he was 4″ shorter in the long jump, but their agility numbers were pretty close.

So, really, not at all far apart in athleticism for +340-lb guys. Comes down to football smarts, vision and coachability.

I like Joe Vellano of this group to get a spot. Bill met with him several weeks ago and watch film together. Patriots defensive coach Patrick Graham also spent time on the Maryland Campus. Vellano ‘s tape is very good.

Stephon Morris’s 5’8, 188-pound frame might limit him to the slot or dime, as well as special teams at the next level. That’s likely one of a couple reasons why he wasn’t drafted. He’s very fast and a great athlete all around, but he hasn’t exactly flashed. Despite the fact that Morris played in 49 career games for the Nittany Lions, he recorded just one interception, and that was during his freshman year. Yet as far as undrafted free agents are considered, he’s still a good pick-up.

Absolutely thrilled that the team didn’t spend an early pick on one of the DTs in this draft. Outside of Star Lotulelei and possibly Sharrif Floyd, there wasn’t a difference-maker in the bunch. That being said, a nice idea to stock up on UDFAs to see if there is a diamond in the rough. Grissom especially could end up being a nice rotational player down the line.